Page 22 of Sinful Pleasure

“How are Martin and Rosetta? I haven’t seen them in a long time,” she asked.

“They’re good, busy as always,” he replied with a smile. “They’re planning a little getaway. My sibling and I will handle things in the meantime.”

The conversation flowed between my mother and Angelo, with me and Maddox eating in silence.

Then Angelo turned to Maddox, gesturing across the table.

“I also want to thank Maddox for agreeing to take care of Allyn while I’m away.”

What he said next left me speechless.

“There’s no one else I trust more than my brother.”

My jaw hit the floor.

Literally.

I was pretty sure my mother and I shared the same expression— both of us completely shocked.

“I did it because that was our father’s wish,” Maddox muttered, taking a long sip of his whiskey, his tone as if the entire conversation annoyed him just as much as being here.

OUR father?

“Maddox? The Maddox King?”

My mother’s voice broke the awkward silence, her gaze flickering between him and Angelo.Angelo looked genuinely confused.

“I thought that was common knowledge by now.”

Maddox casually played with the rim of his glass, looking far too comfortable, as if Angelo hadn’t just dropped a bombshell.

“You didn’t tell them?” Angelo turned to Maddox.

Maddox shrugged. “Must’ve slipped my mind.”

Without a hint of remorse, he curled his lips into a thin, cruel grin.

Angelo sighed.

“Excuse my brother’s manners.” His voice harsher. His eyes narrowing as he stared at Maddox. “He’s not exactly a master of conversation.”

Maddox raised his glass, eyeing Angelo with mock amusement. “You must know that from personal experience, brother.”

Hearing “brother” roll off his tongue felt forbidden—shocking— and confirmed that everything I had just heard was as real as it could get.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I remembered all the awful things I’d said about Angelo in front of him.

And the fact that I kissed another man right in front of Maddox - who, by the way, is my future husband’s brother!

God, please just take me now. I’m ready.

“How come we’ve never met before?” my mother asked, turning to Maddox. “I’m close with your whole family.”

“I was away for a long time. I’ve only just returned home.”

And suddenly, everything made sense.

I’ve read articles about The Kings.

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